POST-CAPTAINS OF 1814.
231
At about 8-16 A.M., the report of a gun was heard in the N.N.W., supposed to be from the light-house; sounded in 46 fathoms, and continued to fire guns, which were answered till past 9 o’clock. At 9, sounded in 38 fathoms, set top-gallant-sails, and stood in to make the land, steering about N.N.E., aman looking out on the jib-boom-end, another at the bowsprit-end, and a good leadsman in the chains, expecting the fog would clear sufficiently, as we approached the shore, to see any danger that might present itself. Not hearing any guns fired in answer to ours for three quarters of an hour before the ship struck, I considered her sufficiently far to the eastward to clear the Sisters, on the course we were then steering. At 10-10, as near as I can recollect, having just before asked the man in the chains if he had any bottom, and being answered that he had none with 20 fathoms up and down, I apprehended no danger, and consulted the master, who agreed with me in supposing, that, at the easy rate we were then going, we should get soundings, or see any danger that might lie before us, in sufficient time to avoid it; but I had scarcely done speaking when the look-out man at the jib-boom-end called out ‘starboard the helm;’ and conceiving it was to avoid some vessel near us, the fog being excessively thick, the helm was immediately put to starboard; but before it was hard over the ship was in the breakers, and in a few minutes the rudder, the stern-post, and part of the keel were knocked off. Perceiving immediately there was no hope of saving the ship, my whole attention was turned to saving the lives of my valuable crew; to effect which, I directed, in the first place, the quarter boats to be lowered, and the jolly-boat to be launched from the poop. I had also given directions for the guns to be thrown overboard; but the ship filled before any of them could be cast loose. All those above water were fired as signals of distress, and I sent men aloft to hook the yard-tackles for getting the pinnace out; but the tottering state of the masts compelled me to call them down again; and, ordering every body to windward, I directed the main and fore-masts to be cut away, which was immediately done, and they both fell on the starboard side without injuring the boat. Immediately after the fall of the masts, the ship parted in two places, just before the mizen and main-chains. A few of the crew were then on the larboard side of the ship, the only part above water, and the remainder clinging about the masts and on the booms. About 60 men got into the pinnace, which was still supported by the booms; but as there were ro hopes of saving the boats with that number in her, I persuaded about 20 or 30 to come out and endeavour by main strength to launch her clear of the wreck, which they succeeded in doing in a most miraculous manner. The jolly-boat was stove and filled with water immediately after being launched, and there then remained but three boats, (the pinnace, the cutter, and a gig) one of which I despatched to a brig observed to be near us, with orders to anchor her close to the wreck, if possible. The boat returned after having let go the brig’s anchor, which did not reach the bottom, and we saw no more of her. Nothing being now left to trust our lives to except the boats and a raft, as many
